Ohio Agriculture

Spread over 14 million acres, Ohio’s more than 75,000 farms range from small hobby farms to large, family-run operations. All of them are equally important to the Buckeye State’s massive food and agriculture industry – the largest industry in the state – which contributes $105 billion annually to Ohio’s economy. Ohio’s farms are diverse in more than just size. Poultry, soybeans, corn, pork, dairy and sheep top the state’s commodity list in terms of production value, but you’ll also find blueberries, strawberries, sweet corn, honeybees, chestnuts, sunflowers and more. In fact, the state’s farmers grow and raise more than 200 products, which explains why Ohio is a leader in more than 35 product sectors. These farms differ in growing methods as well, from organic to conventional. In 2011, Ohio was home to 505 certified organic farms, a number that continues to grow with the rise in popularity of organics.